Up to 35% of older NZ cats live with chronic kidney disease — and by the time symptoms show, most of the damage has already happened.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common conditions in older cats. SPCA Pet Insurance NZ, citing New Zealand Veterinary Journal research, reports that about 10% of the general NZ cat population and up to 35% of older cats are affected.
CKD is also difficult to catch early: symptoms typically only become obvious once around 70% of kidney function is already impaired, which is why an annual blood and urine test is recommended for cats over 10. There is no cure — SPCA Pet Insurance is direct about this: available treatments manage the disease and improve comfort, rather than reverse it, which means ongoing, typically lifelong veterinary care rather than a single treatable event.
Certain cat breeds carry an additional genetic risk on top of general age-related CKD prevalence — polycystic kidney disease is a recognised genetic condition in Persian-lineage breeds including Persians and Exotic Shorthairs. Because CKD means ongoing management rather than a one-off bill, how a policy treats chronic, long-running conditions matters more here than its headline annual limit alone.
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